Polite as it is, the reply constitutes a sweeping. rejection of the entire Lincheng Note, for while some disposition is shown to comply with some of the terms prescribed, it is clearly enough stated in almost every clause of the reply that the right of the Powers to impose terms is not recognized. In other words the demiinds, gs demands, are flatly rejected; for the simple rasen that the Chinese Government does not recognize the right of anyone to make demands of any sort upon China. According to this new ruling no one who makes a contract, bargain or treaty with China has the right to insist upon its execution. If incidents arise in China which are in contra vention of treaties or contracts, China may, out of the goodness of her heart or as an act of special condescension, establish checks upon repetitions or make such reparation as she sees fit, but she does so with the clear understanding that no Power and no group of Powers has the slightest right to hold her to her obligations if she cares to ignore them. Anyone who reads the reply carefull, will see that this is the one all-important thread upon which all the clauses are strung. Beside this the actual discussion of terms is of trifling importance. Everyone who has sufficient interest in the foreigner's position in China to read the reply, must make himself thoroughly aware of ihe fact that it is deliberately and clever-~ ly designed to establish a pre cedent in China's foreign relations, in accordance with which Chine. will henceforth break or
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.